Raila announces venue for demo despite police ban

ODM leader Raila Odinga has asked his supporters to converge at the Central Business District for their Monday demonstration.

Addressing a church function on Sunday, Raila said they will converge at the Nairobi Central Business District before the start of their mass protest.

"I'm calling on all Kenyans of goodwill to wake up very early in the morning and gather at the Nairobi Central Business District (CBD)," Raila said.

In an apparent response to a police ban that said the demo is illegal, Raila said that every Kenyan has a right to hold a demo as it is enshrined in the constitution.

"The mass action is your right, and there is no one who should by any means take that right from you," Raila said.

The statement by Raila comes after Nairobi Police commander Adamson Bungei declared the Monday protest illegal and not allowed.

Bungei said they received requests from two groups intending to hold protests on the same day and decided to grant none the permit to protest.

He said both Azimio la Umoja and Nairobi business community had written to them about their intention to hold a protest on Monday.

"We are in receipt of two requests that came late yesterday and today in the m morning. One was from Azimio la Umoja One Kenya and another from the Nairobi business community. The two groups intended to have peaceful demos. But for public safety none has been granted," he said.

Bungei said the two groups did not meet the threshold to be allowed to carry on with protest and warned of dire consequences for those who will break the law.

"Any person who will breach the peace or break the law during the procession shall be dealt with according to the law," he said.

"The public order act of 2012 is very clear, if a protest is not within the framework of that order then it is illegal."

He assured Kenyans that their security and that of their properties is well guaranteed.

"We promise Kenyans that we are ready to secure their lives and properties tomorrow."

Bungei at the same time said the State House of Kenya remains out of bounds.

He said the law is very clear that the State House is a restricted area and nobody will be allowed whether peaceful or not to access it.

"I want to underline some areas such as State House where we have heard people planning to invade or visit is covered by the laws of Kenya that it is a restricted area for unauthorised persons," he said.